Holland set to replace injured O'Keefe

TEST CALL-UP: Jon Holland celebrates a wicket with his Victorian teammates in the Sheffield Shield.Matt King

CRICKET: Jon Holland will be using Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath as inspiration when he lines up for his Test debut in the second Test in Galle starting tomorrow.

The 29-year-old Victorian is set to replace the injured Stephen O'Keefe as the tourists look to fight back after losing the first Test in Kandy last week.

The left-arm spinner, who had to renew his passport before flying out to join the Australian squad, had a good look at the veteran and will look to copy some of his traits if, as appears likely, he joins Nathan Lyon as the Aussies' two spinners.

"He (Herath) just bowls on the spot and knows how to subtly change his spin and variations and pace, and that sort of thing,” he said.

"I think just about every time he bowls the ball it's hitting the stumps, which is a big positive.

"I will try to take a bit of that on board, and try to do the same as that.”

Holland (pictured) had a top season with Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, helping the team to the title last season.

He has experienced sub-continent conditions before and is hoping that will help him adapt quickly this time around.

"I've been over here (Sri Lanka) a couple of times, I've been to India a couple of times, so I have been exposed to these conditions,” he said.

"But it's been a while since I have been here, so I will have to get a bit of a feel for it at training and things like that.”